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Cruz’s misleading attack that Trump ‘convinced’ the gov to ‘bulldoze’ a widow’s home
https://www.washingtonpost.com ^ | February 13, 2016 | Michelle Ye Hee Lee

Posted on 02/13/2016 10:23:41 AM PST by NKP_Vet

"Trump bankrolled politicians to steamroll the little guy, a pattern of sleaze stretching back decades. Worse? Trump still supports eminent domain today."

Who knew such a wonky topic would find its way into political attacks in the Republican presidential race? An ad released this week by Ted Cruz's presidential campaign lodged a renewed attack on Donald Trump's support for eminent domain and alleged use of the government's powers for private gain, to bully an elderly woman out of her home.

There are two problematic aspects of this ad: the misleading headlines that accompany the narration and the cherry-picked footage of Trump's answers that misrepresent the context of his statements. We took a look at these two elements, the context of the ad and the actual sources of the quotes and footage the ad used.

The Facts

The case

In 1994, the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, a government agency, attempted to seize an elderly widow's home. The agency tried to invoke "eminent domain," which refers to the government's right to acquire private property for public use.

The house was located near the Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City. The agency wanted to turn the house and two other properties over to the Trump Organization. Trump had planned to landscape the area and build a new parking lot, with a waiting area for limousines.

The woman, Vera Coking, was in her 70s and had lived in her home for 37 years. She refused to give it up. Then, a four-year court battle ensued.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: New Jersey
KEYWORDS: 2016issues; atlanticcity; cds; cruzlies; eminentdomain; trump; washingtoncompost
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To: austinaero
Yeah, I was surprised to get a similar response.

'The Coking lady was greedy!'

Like that makes it OK somehow. I swear these Trump supporters use the exact same arguments that liberals use.

181 posted on 02/13/2016 12:22:58 PM PST by Hoodat (Article 4, Section 4)
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To: NKP_Vet
This is such a “wonky topic” that there was a Supreme Court decision regarding it (Kelo). Although this type of eminent domain was declared constitutional, local politicians saw the writing on the wall (voter backlash) and enacted local laws prohibiting it. In other words, this is a YUUUUGE deal, and not some obscure footnote in some dusty reference book lying undisturbed in the National Archives.

If you have some time, do a search on “pilot payments in lieu of taxes.” I can only imagine that the “art of the deal” would include deals concerning property taxes on improved (i.e. seized) properties.

182 posted on 02/13/2016 12:23:03 PM PST by Lauren BaRecall
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To: NKP_Vet

Cruz Documentary:

Lies of a Principled Conservative Christian


183 posted on 02/13/2016 12:24:47 PM PST by aMorePerfectUnion (As a representative of Earth, I officially welcome Global Warming to our planet)
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To: itsahoot
I'm a Trump supporter who does have sympathy for her. I've helped out on eminent domain abuses in Long Branch and Asbury Park. Sadly, never got too far in fending off developers in wonderful 19th century Asbury. She stood strong and defeated the Donald. I would have done the opposite myself but she stood strong. A Pyrrhic victory, perhaps, but her own. May she rest in peace.
184 posted on 02/13/2016 12:25:18 PM PST by miss marmelstein (Richard the Third: With my own people alone I should like to drive away the Turks (Muslims))
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To: Hoodat

They also have no concept of private property rights and Constitutional principles.


185 posted on 02/13/2016 12:27:13 PM PST by Lauren BaRecall
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To: BigEdLB

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j09QK15G2Q4

Cruz stuttering in interview facing up to his flip flops on immigration.

Ted Millhouse Cruz, some Honest Christian cheating and stealing nice Doc Carsons votes in order to win Iowa.

BOR says Cruz should be stripped of this win for gross violations of the Caucus rules.


186 posted on 02/13/2016 12:27:59 PM PST by Zenjitsuman (A)
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To: SubMareener

Oh no - Donald Trump has more faults than California’s tectonic plates. For starters, he’s not even a real conservative.

I’m just commenting on how the Trumpettes are somehow imagining that Trump a) didn’t have a hand in this, b) didn’t make this woman’s life a living hell for four years, and c) actually has anyone’s best interests other than his own at heart.

He’s scum. The people that support him are idiots.


187 posted on 02/13/2016 12:30:00 PM PST by bolobaby
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To: JayGalt
Most of the property owners were paid well for their properties and left. Really, the 1 million she was offered in 1980 (fifty times what she paid for it) would have been a fair offer to most people.
188 posted on 02/13/2016 12:30:12 PM PST by Abby4116
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To: austinaero

ED?


189 posted on 02/13/2016 12:31:06 PM PST by Lauren BaRecall
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To: itsahoot

...and that’s right?

I get it now - let’s just throw a little money on top of it, then I should be able to make pastors perform gay weddings!


190 posted on 02/13/2016 12:31:07 PM PST by bolobaby
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To: austinaero
You're so right. This mean old woman shouldn't have the right to dig her heels in. She should have come up with a better solution like floating her house away with balloons.


191 posted on 02/13/2016 12:33:15 PM PST by bolobaby
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To: BigEdLB
>>Under the foundation of Trump Tower in Manhattan!

That's funny.

Is it as funny as Trump's "discovery", who was warbling in the middle of the field, representing the homosexual community, in the middle of the field during the Super Bowl last Sunday?


192 posted on 02/13/2016 12:33:37 PM PST by HLPhat (Preventing Global Cooling one tank full at a time!)
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To: Lauren BaRecall

They have no problem with Trump raising taxes on the top 1% either. Some here have actually defended federal taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood once Trump backed away from Cruz and the rest of the ‘Defund’ Republicans.


193 posted on 02/13/2016 12:34:17 PM PST by Hoodat (Article 4, Section 4)
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To: bolobaby

So what part of “NO personal attacks” do you understand?


194 posted on 02/13/2016 12:35:04 PM PST by SubMareener (Save us from Quarterly Freepathons! Become a MONTHLY DONOR!)
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To: Abby4116
I think Ichan is part of the group that owns what was Trump Plaza.

http://m.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/top_three/carl-icahn-won-t-approve-sale-of-trump-plaza-for/article_6bf05244-abb4-11e2-97a7-0019bb2963f4.html?mode=jqm

Billionaire investor Carl Icahn, who holds the mortgage on the Trump casinos, said Monday there is no way he will approve the proposed $20 million sale of Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino.

Icahn, in an interview with The Press of Atlantic City, contended the price is simply too low, although he declined to say how much he thinks Atlantic City’s poorest-performing casino is worth. In the meantime, Trump Plaza’s sale to a California company is on hold.

"It’s as black and white as it can be: They can't sell that casino without our consent. It's not going for anywhere close to $20 million," Icahn said.

As Trump's senior lender, Icahn must approve the deal. Icahn said he holds the mortgage for both Trump Plaza and Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort. His office said the mortgage totals $289 million.

Icahn's opposition is blocking the Meruelo Group, of Downey, Calif., from completing its $20 million purchase of Trump Plaza. The deal, announced in February, would be the lowest sale price ever for an Atlantic City casino

Trump was unable to sell Trump Plaza and it was closed.

195 posted on 02/13/2016 12:35:18 PM PST by Elderberry
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To: austinaero

ED - I thought St. John’s Wort was supposed to be good for that.


196 posted on 02/13/2016 12:35:22 PM PST by Lauren BaRecall
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To: austinaero

Thank you!

There was a system in place, everyone got their day in court.

The system worked.

And Vera’s grandson lost the family a million and a half


197 posted on 02/13/2016 12:35:56 PM PST by digger48
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To: Abby4116

Not only that, she turned down one million 1979 dollars to eventually receive $530,000 in 2014 dollars, while paying taxes, utility fees and maintenance on the property for an additional 35 years.

Not very wise.

And let us not kid ourselves—she wanted to sell, but no one wanted to pay her price. She was no shrinking violet, poor widow being dispossessed.

She made a poor business decision in 1979 and again in 1994 when Trump offered her a million dollars.

That’s on her, not on Trump.

And by the way, is Cruz insinuating that Trump colluded with the Redevelopment Authority to throw Coking out?

Where is the proof for that?


198 posted on 02/13/2016 12:36:42 PM PST by exit82 ("The Taliban is on the inside of the building" E. Nordstrom 10-10-12)
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To: SubMareener
You're so right! She should have come up with a better solution like floating her house away with balloons!

You're a joke. She didn't want to sell. Therefore, she's stupid for not taking the money. Newsflash scumbag: some things are more important to people than money. You'll have a hard time wrapping your lizard brain around that because you're obviously so impressed by Trump's biiiiiiiiillions.

199 posted on 02/13/2016 12:37:55 PM PST by bolobaby
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To: exit82

If Cruz said something like that, shame on him.

He could scold Trump for being callous and insensitive about real estate rights (as contingent a thing as they are) without making up details. The lightning bug is not the same thing as the lightning.

Though, if Cruz were a Freeper and tried this, he might get zotted.


200 posted on 02/13/2016 12:39:25 PM PST by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
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